The All Progressives Congress (APC) South-East Renaissance Group (ASERG) has asked the ruling party to zone the speakership of the ninth house of representatives to the south-east.

This is coming after the APC leadership endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila, the house majority leader, for the speakership position.

The ASERG through its convener, Chris-Lance Onyemechara, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, accused the APC of denying the south-east principal offices in 2015. Onyemechara stated that same cannot be allowed this time.

“Four years after, we have produced two ranking members and now our party seems set to shift the goal post again,” he said.

“From established political norms and antecedents, in the spirit of natural justice and equity, what we thought our party would have naturally bequeathed us the senate presidency or the speakership of the house of representatives are now subjects of political contention and controversy.

“The politics of exclusion did not work, why don’t we try the politics of inclusion.

“And under the circumstance, the best way to start, is to zone the speakership of the house of representatives to the south-east.”

The convener called on APC members from other geo-political zones seeking to hold the office of the speaker to withdraw from the race.

“Our demand is simple – zone the speakership of the house of representatives to the south-east,” he said.

Apart from Femi Gbajabiamila, other aspirant for the speakership position include, Abdulrazak Namdas from Adamawa; Mohammed Bago, from Niger; and Nkireuka Onyejocha from Abia.